waterproof

waterproof — adjective

1. made so that water cannot pass into or damage something; designed to stay dry ev

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

made so that water cannot pass into or damage something; designed to stay dry even when in contact with rain or liquid.

Example

Amihan wore a waterproof jacket during the heavy rain in Taipei.

attributive use: waterproof + jacket

The screen on Kevin's phone is waterproof, so he can use it near water.

predicative use: is + waterproof

Common collocations
  • waterproof jacket
  • waterproof bag
  • waterproof phone
  • waterproof boots
  • waterproof tent
  • waterproof watch
  • fully waterproof
  • completely waterproof
Synonyms
  • water-resistant

    weaker meaning — can resist water for a short time but not fully block it

  • water-repellent

    coated to make water run off, but not guaranteed completely dry

  • impermeable

    formal term; blocks all liquids, not just water

Antonyms
  • porous

    allows water to pass through small holes

  • leaky

    lets water in through cracks or openings

Grammar Patterns

waterproof + noun

be + waterproof

Usage Note

Cannot be used with 'more' or 'most' — something is either waterproof or it is not; there are no comparison degrees for this adjective in its literal sense.

Common Mistakes

This jacket is more waterproof than that one.
This jacket offers better protection from rain than that one.
Waterproof describes an absolute quality and does not take comparative forms.

waterproof — noun

waterproof — verb

Word family

  • waterproofing
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe how well something keeps water out, but they differ in strength. 'Waterproof' is the strongest everyday term — it means no water can get through at all. 'Water-resistant' is weaker; it means the item can handle a little water but will eventually let it in if exposed long enough. Many watches and outdoor jackets carry this label. 'Water-repellent' is a step above water-resistant — the surface is chemically treated so that water beads up and rolls off, but it is not guaranteed to stay dry under heavy rain. 'Impermeable' is a formal, technical term meaning that no liquid or gas can pass through at all; it is rarely used in daily conversation. For example: 'A waterproof tent kept the campers dry through the night storm, while their water-resistant shoes were soaked after crossing a shallow stream.'

waterproof ↗water-resistantwater-repellentimpermeable

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • keep dry
  • stay dry
  • protect from rain
  • block water

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'waterproof' is a compound formed from two Old English words: 'water' (from 'wæter', meaning the liquid we drink and wash with) and 'proof' (from 'prōf', meaning 'tested and shown to resist'). The earliest recorded uses date to the late 1700s, when new industrial techniques allowed fabrics to be treated so they would not soak up water. A related metaphorical sense emerged in the 1900s meaning 'unable to be harmed or affected by something' (e.g. 'waterproof alibi').